Congo claims grounded plane released by High Court

The Democratic Republic of Congo's justice minister has said the High Court released an airplane belonging to the country's new national carrier this week after it was grounded over a debt row with two American investors.

The Airbus A320 is one of two planes recently purchased by the government for the launch of Congo Airways, expected before the end of this year. It was being painted at Dublin Airport ahead of its arrival in Congo.

The High Court grounded the plane last month after the private investors from a company called Miminco said Congo owes them $11.5 million (€10.3m) to repay assets seized by government forces from diamond mines they controlled in the 1990s.

"The Irish judge found in our favour this afternoon. The plane has been freed and it can return (to Congo) starting tomorrow," Justice Minister Alexis Thambwe said on state-run television.

A Dublin Airport Authority spokeswoman said the aircraft remained at the airport and there was "no information on when it's leaving yet".

Mr Thambwe said the court found that the debt, which Congo acknowledges, did not concern Congo Airways.

Congo Airways is entirely owned by public Congolese entities and is meant to replace the country’s last national carrier, which went bankrupt in 2003.

Air travel in Congo is dogged by high prices, lax safety standards and poor service. All domestic carriers are banned from operating inside the European Union for safety reasons.